Introduction

The war of independence in Mozambique is an armed conflict between the Party of the liberation front of Mozambique and Portugal. The war began on 25 September 1964 and the two sides ceasefire on 8 September 1974. After consultations, Mozambique became independent in 1975.

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Why?

The discontent of the Mozambican people with the Portuguese rulers was the cause of the war. They believed that the laws and regulations implemented in Mozambique were only beneficial to Portugal. Many Mozambicans are also angry at the Portuguese government’s policy of banning them from receiving education. With the rise of the African National Self-determination movement after World War II, the Nationalist forces in Mozambique have gradually grown up, and Mozambicans have become increasingly disgusted with the rule of foreign rulers.

• Mendeland riots

  1964—1969

  The first battle of the Mozambique Liberation Front was an attack on the chaichai municipal government, after which the fighting spread in central Mozambique. In the early days of the war, guerrillas often launched small platoon attacks on government facilities in Portugal. Guerrillas often attack in small groups of 10 to 15. The guerrillas used this tactic mainly to break up the Portuguese army.

  The guerrillas strategies first caused casualties to the Portuguese army in northern Mozambique in November. With the help of the local people, the guerrillas were able to defeat the smaller Portuguese army in the north and move south. Despite the expansion of the scope of activities, most guerrilla activities are still small-scale damage to government institutions. At that time, the guerrillas relied on ships on Lake Malawi for communication and supplies.

• Mendeland’s assassination and the war

  1969—1974

  On February 3, 1969, Edward Mondlane’s office in Tanzania exploded, and mendeland himself was killed. According to some information, the Portuguese secret police sent a book to mendeland’s office. When mendeland opened the book, the bomb in the book was detonated. Other sources believe that an unidentified killer put the bomb under mendeland’s chair. The initial investigation targeted two officers of the Mozambique Liberation Front. One was later executed, while the other surrendered to the Portuguese army in April of the same year.

  Although the details of the assassination are still debated, most historians and biographers believe that the Portuguese government plays an important role in it. In 1990, the Portuguese secret police also admitted responsibility for Mondlane ‘s death. At that time, because it was impossible to determine who the murderer was, mendeland’s death not only caused great suspicion among the senior generals of the Mozambique Liberation Front, but also caused a power struggle, which eventually turned the Mozambique Liberation Front into a left-wing organization.

• End of war

  1974—1975

  Portuguese discontent with the government finally broke out on April 25, 1974, when the Portuguese army launched a coup to overthrow the government. Many Portuguese colonists left Mozambique after that, and the new head of government of Portugal also announced that they would negotiate with the Mozambique Liberation Front. The elections in Mozambique, funded by Portugal, triggered a new round of guerrilla attacks, and the Portuguese army had to give up northern Mozambique. After the fall of the old government, many soldiers in the Portuguese colonial army began to refuse to carry out their duties. They stayed in the barracks all day instead of going out to patrol as usual. On September 8, 1974, the Portuguese government signed a truce agreement with the Mozambique Liberation Front. June 25, 1975 is the 13th anniversary of the founding of the Mozambique Liberation Front. On the same day, Mozambique officially declared its independence.

The Independence

From the military point of view, the Portuguese army had the upper hand in the war, but the final winner was the disadvantageous Mozambican liberation front. The 470 year reign of the Portuguese Empire in East Africa ended when a coup called the carnation revolution overthrew the old Portuguese government. One of the causes of the carnation revolution is that some Portuguese pay attention to the treatment of Mozambicans by Portuguese government. Shortly after the coup, Mozambique became independent on 25 June 1975.